Your Ultimate Guide to Baby Sleep
Find answers to these common FAQs about all things baby sleep here…
How long should a baby sleep for over night?
Why is my baby awake a lot at night?
Why is sleep important for babies?
How can I get my baby to sleep until later in the morning?
When should my baby be napping?
Why are sleep schedules for babies important?
What is co-sleeping and is it safe?
Should I change my babies nappy at night before or after a feed?
How do you get a baby to sleep without rocking them?
How long should a baby sleep in our room for?
How can I create a bedtime routine for my baby?
What are the benefits of a bedtime routine for a baby?
What is safe sleep and how can I implement it?
What should a baby be wearing to sleep?
At what age should babies sleep through the night?
What is active sleep in babies?
How long are babies’ sleep cycles?
What is sleep training?
Is sleep training detrimental for my baby?
Should I use white noise when my baby sleeps?
Why do babies wake throughout the night?
At what age should a baby stop needing night feeds?
When can a baby sleep on their front rather than their back?
What can I do to help my baby sleep when they have a cold?
What is colic and how does it affect babies’ sleep?
How long should a baby sleep for at night?
It’s important to remember that all babies are different with some babies sleeping much more than others. Some may begin to sleep through the night soon after being born, while some don’t for a long time, and some babies sleep for long periods in the day, others in short bursts.
All babies have their own pattern of waking and sleeping, which will be different to other babies you know. Rather than measuring how much sleep your baby is having at night, it is better to measure it over a 24-hour period. Here is the average amount of sleep babies need:
Newborn – 10 - 18 hours over 24 hours
3 - 6 Months – Fewer night feeds and sleeping for longer at night (approx. 8 hours at night). Twice as long sleeping at night as they do in the day.
6 - 12 Months – Night feeds may no longer be necessary, up to 12 hours sleep at night.
Why is my baby awake a lot at night?
There are a variety of reasons why your baby may be waking at night, but remember it is completely normal for babies (especially newborns) to need regular feeds and nappy changes throughout the night. As your baby grows, they will also have growth spurts, illnesses and will be teething, all of which can affect their sleep.
Why do babies wake throughout the night?
Babies primarily wake during the night as their brain waves shift and change cycles as they move through different stages of sleep (rapid eye movement (REM) sleep and non-REM sleep).
Some other reasons your baby may be waking during the night are:
- “Good sleepers” vs “bad sleepers”. Some babies are just better sleepers than others!
- Teething
- Hunger
- Behavioural changes
- Illness/infection
- Some babies are conditioned to fall asleep with their dummies so may wake when it falls out.
How can I get my baby used to day and night?
Babies are born not knowing the difference between daytime and night-time as they have spent their whole existence up to that point in the womb where it is dark and warm.
Because of this, their biological clock is not developed, so if your new baby sleeps all day and is awake all night, this is normal!
To teach your baby the difference, during the day you can keep your curtains open/lights on, play games and do not worry about there being noise while they sleep. At night-time you should keep the lights low, don’t play with them and keep noise down as much as possible, speaking in a quiet voice. You can also put your baby down as soon as they are changed and fed and try to only change their nappy if they need it.
Why is sleep important for babies?
Getting enough sleep is essential for babies’ development. Sleep plays an important part in a baby’s physical growth and cognition and is associated with overall cognitive development and functions including language, memory and executive function.
During sleep, babies process new experiences and skills and wake up ready to learn more!
How can I get my baby to sleep until later in the morning?
It is normal for babies to be waking between 6am and 7am, but if your baby is waking up at or before 5am and won’t go back to sleep by self-soothing or after a feed and nappy change, here are some tips that may help them sleep later in the morning:
- Don’t let the sun come into the room (black out curtains/blinds).
- Keep it quiet.
- Give your baby their dummy (if they have one).
- Hold off giving them breakfast.
- Give it a minute (try not to rush into them straight away unless they are really wailing, give them 5 or 10 minutes as they may drop back off to sleep on their own).
If your baby is consistently waking up early, it may be that they are going to bed too early so you could try putting them down an hour later at bedtime.
When should my baby be napping?
Napping habits and schedules will be completely different from one baby to another.
In general, newborns will nap constantly in between feeds and will sleep for stretches of 30 minutes to three hours at a time throughout the day and night.
By around 4 months old, babies will get into a more consistent routine, napping two to three times a day, but the length of the naps will vary.
Why are sleep schedules for babies important?
Establishing a routine for sleep and naps for your infant is important as it will help maintain their body clock to release melatonin, which can help them get to sleep more quickly.
What is co-sleeping and is it safe?
Co-sleeping is sharing a bed or sleep surface with your baby. Co-sleeping is technically not advised to reduce the risks of SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome) however we know that many parents find themselves co-sleeping due to their babies being hard to soothe otherwise or for many other reasons.
There are some scenarios where you should not co-sleep as it is dangerous, these being:
- If you or anyone in the bed has recently drunk alcohol
- If you or anyone in the bed smokes
- If you or anyone in the bed has taken any drugs or medication that make you feel sleepy
- If your baby was born prematurely (before 37 weeks)
In order to co-sleep more safely you should:
- Keep pillows and adult bedding that may cover your baby’s head away from them.
- Never leave your baby unattended in an adult bed.
- Do not bring other children or pets into the bed.
- Make sure your baby cannot be trapped, wedged or fall out of the bed or get trapped between the mattress and the wall.
Should I change my baby’s nappy at night before or after a feed?
As a general rule, you should only change your baby’s nappy at night if it is soiled or is completely full. It is entirely up to you if you decide to change your baby’s nappy before or after a night feed, however we would recommend doing it before as feeding your baby will often get them back off to sleep and changing a nappy after this is likely to wake them up again.
How do you get a baby to sleep without rocking them?
Rocking is one of the most common techniques parents use to get their babies to sleep, and it is natural to cuddle and rock babies when they are upset or struggling to settle. As great as it can be to get your babies to sleep, rocking can quickly become a firm habit that babies then rely on to be able to get to sleep including every time they wake in the night (which can be a lot!).
To wean babies off being rocked to sleep, you can try gradually reducing the amount of movement you use, for example slowly changing rocking them until they’re asleep to just until they’re drowsy, putting them to bed partially awake. You can keep this going reducing the movement until you are able to put them to bed awake and let them get drowsy and fall asleep in bed rather than on you.
How long should a baby sleep in our room for?
Your baby is recommended to sleep in the same room as you both day and night for at least the first 6 months, this is to reduce the risk of SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome). After that it is up to you whether you feel you are comfortable to move your baby into their own room or keep them with you. For a lot of parents, this can quite often depend on how frequently they wake during the night as if they are still waking a lot for feeds and comfort, it may be easier to keep them in your room for longer.
How can I create a bedtime routine for my baby?
You may feel like you would like to introduce a bedtime routine for you baby from around 3 months old. A simple routine before bed could consist of:
- Having a bath
- Changing into pyjamas with a fresh nappy
- Putting them to bed
- Giving a goodnight cuddle and kiss
- Reading a bedtime story
- Brushing their teeth (when they get some)
- Dimming the lights to create a calm atmosphere
- Singing a lullaby or having music mobile
What are the benefits of a bedtime routine for a baby?
A bedtime routine can help your child to associate the activities with sleep and it is important that your baby feel safe and relaxed in their sleep environment.
As your baby gets older, a bedtime routine can also help them to wind down, calm any excitement and reduce stimulation to lessen the potential of them waking again once put to bed.
What is safe sleep and how can I implement it?
Safe sleep is a set of guidelines that you should follow to reduce your baby’s risk of SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome) when sleeping. Safe sleep involves:
Putting your baby on their back for every sleep
Put your baby on their back for every sleep, not their front or side. Do not use any special equipment or products to keep them on their back. Once they start to roll from front to back you can let your babies find their own comfortable sleep position.
Using a clear, flat, separate sleep space
- Use a firm, flat mattress with no cushioned areas.
- No pillows, duvets, or bumpers.
- No pods, nests, or sleep positioners.
- Keep baby’s head uncovered so they don’t get too hot.
- Keep the room between 16 and 20 degrees.
- Place baby at the bottom of the cot so they cannot wriggle under covers.
- Keep sleep space clear (no soft toys etc.).
- Have your baby in the same room as you for the first 6 months.
Keeping your baby smoke free day and night
Keep your baby away from smoke in your home, car and out and about. Babies exposed to tobacco smoke before or after birth have an increased chance of SIDS than babies kept smoke free.
What should a baby be wearing to sleep?
You should dress your baby in layers of fitted clothing rather than thick pyjamas and then you can add or remove layers as the temperature changes. You can use safe infant sleeping bags for dressing your baby for bed as they safely keep your baby’s head and face uncovered while keeping them warm. Sleeping bags also contain your baby’s legs so they don’t hang through cot rails and can prevent them from rolling on to their fronts.
Babies should not wear hats to sleep as they cool themselves down by releasing heat from their heads and faces so can quickly overheat if sleeping with hats on.
The best way to feel your baby’s temperature is to feel their back or tummy, as baby’s hands and feet often feel cool.
At what age should babies sleep through the night?
Most babies will not start sleeping through the night (6-8 hours) until at least 3 months old (although some may before) and about two thirds of babies are able to sleep through the night on a regular basis by 6 months old.
Although this may be the average, it is also common that babies struggle to sleep through the night for much longer, so do not worry if your baby is over 6 months and not sleeping through the night!
What is active sleep in babies?
Half of babies sleep time is ‘active sleep’ or REM (rapid eye movement) mode where they will move, dream and sometimes wake whimpering whilst asleep. During active sleep your baby may move, groan, breathe noisily or irregularly, open their eyes and cry out whilst still being asleep.
During quiet sleep, babies will lie relatively still with more even breathing. It is completely normal for newborns to wake between sleep cycles.
How long are babies’ sleep cycles?
Everybody has sleep cycles where their sleep varies from light to deep. Babies’ sleep cycles are around 40 minutes (compared to 90 minutes in adults) which is why babies tend to wake more frequently.
What is sleep training?
Sleep training is using certain techniques with the goal of training your baby to be comfortable sleeping for several hours though the night on their own and learning to self-soothe and fall back asleep when they may wake throughout the night. There are several sleep training techniques which have been developed by paediatricians and sleep experts.
Is sleep training detrimental for my baby?
Of the studies conducted into outcomes of sleep training, none have found an effect on a baby’s attachment or mental health.
Should I use white noise when my baby sleeps?
Some babies have been found to be able to fall asleep faster with white noise playing as it can mask any other distracting noises occurring. Babies can be accustomed to being surrounded by noise, so a completely quiet environment can have the opposite effect when they are trying to sleep.
A potential downsize of white noise may be that some babies become dependent on it to be able to fall asleep and so find it difficult to sleep without it. All babies are different, and some babies also don’t like white noise at all!
At what age should a baby stop needing night feeds?
As a general rule, breastfed babies can have night feeds weaned from around 12 months, and formula fed babies from around 6 months. It’s important to remember that all babies are different so you may think your baby is ready sooner/later than this.
When can a baby sleep on their front rather than their back?
Babies should always be put to bed on their backs up to 12 months old, even if they end up rolling onto their stomachs throughout the night.
What can I do to help my baby sleep when they have a cold?
Babies can struggle to sleep or wake more throughout the night when they have a cold or are not feeling well. Some tips on how to help your baby sleep better when they have a cold are:
- Lift their head and shoulders to help congestion drain down by raising one end of their cot with something solid, but make sure the cot is still stable.
- Using vapour rubs on their chest and put a few drops of eucalyptus oil on their sheet near their nose.
- Using a salt water nasal spray or drops to help clear their noses.
- Keep them cool so their temperature doesn’t spike.
- Use paracetamol (over 3 months) if they have a raised temperature.
What is colic and how does it affect babies’ sleep?
Colic is when a baby cries a lot but there is no obvious cause for it. It is a common problem in small babies that should improve by 3 or 4 months old.
Babies with colic are often fussy, gassy and don’t sleep very well. It has also been found that at 6 months old, infants with a history of colic sleep on average less and with more night awakenings than those without a history of colic.
Colicky babies tend to be able to settle better if their cot is elevated by 30 degrees so they are kept semi upright and feeding them after naps rather than before can reduce the chance of them having an upset tummy at sleep time.